A Legacy of Love
After reading a news article from WZZM about a Michigan couple married for 80 years, my heart felt an immediate pull to celebrate their story. Marriage is at the core of my work, so I took to Instagram and offered a free anniversary session to the couple—hoping the internet might somehow connect us.
As it turns out, one of my former brides works for WZZM and connected me with the couple’s daughter. A few months later, I photographed Robert and Betty in the home Robert built 75 years ago—the very place where they have lived out their extraordinary love story.
At 97 and 98 years old, Robert and Betty still live independently and even mow their own lawn. They met just down the road from their home when Robert was plowing fields, and Betty couldn’t help but notice his head full of curly hair. Their story is as charming as it is enduring.
Two of their children also been married for over 50 years, and the legacy of love this family built is nothing short of remarkable. When asked for their best marriage advice, Robert and Betty shared two simple truths: never go to bed angry, and both people must give 100% every day.
One of the most meaningful parts of this session is that they have no photographs from their wedding day, making this anniversary session even more special. We spent time reminiscing about their life together, took portraits in the patio chairs where they sit every evening, and photographed them by the garden they’ve lovingly tended for more than seven decades.
